Last Thursday, in addition to our graduating adult English students, we recognized eight ladies who completed the necessary coursework to become Certified Nursing Assistants. We are so proud of this dedicated group, because we know that getting to this stage involved a lot of hard work! So what exactly is a Certified Nursing Assistant? According to nursingassistants.com, a “certified nursing assistant, or CNA, helps patients or clients with healthcare needs under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Also known as a Nursing Assistant (NA) a Patient Care Assistant (PCA) or a State Tested Nurse Aid (STNA), the individual who carries this title needs strong work ethic and ability”.

Instead of the standard six-week course offered through Utah CNA Centers, our students participated in an extended ten-week course. This allowed our students to go to their Nursing Assistant classes all day Saturday and receive supplementary English instruction aligned with their curriculum here at Guadalupe School during the week. This English-assisted class was a first for our school, and the first of its kind in the state of Utah – and ALL of our students passed!

So, naturally we feel like celebrating with them! We may be five different programs, but when one program has a marvelous success such as this, we all feel hopeful and proud of our mission and the work we do here. When our students succeed, we succeed together as a community!

These ladies are not done just yet – they still have to pass the state examination to become licensed, but they have the support of Guadalupe School, Utah CNA Centers, GE Capital, and the community behind them.

Once they pass the state exam, having a CNA certification for these women, will mean joining one of the fastest growing career fields in the United States. The pay starts out above minimum wage, and the career is often a stepping stone into the medical field that leads to other career options such as medical assistant, radiologist, or registered nurse. This is just one of many steps on their journey to success, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for them.

So, please join us in congratulating these strong, dedicated women. They deserve it!